SAN FRANCISCO – If you remember the name Marco Scutaro at all, you probably remember him as a left fielder.

In one of the many low points of last season, former manager Bobby Valentine put Scutaro in the outfield in the fifth inning of an Aug. 10 game in St. Louis. Scutaro, recalled from Triple-A Norfolk the morning of the game, misplayed a line drive that sailed over his head in the sixth inning, ensuring a brutal 5-4 loss and the beginning of an unforgettable 12-game losing streak.

(Valentine’s baseball people had convinced him Scutaro could play the outfield, the Mets skipper claimed at the time.)

In short, it hasn’t exactly been a great 12 months for the infielder who was recalled for last night’s game with the Giants. Scutaro, who one team official once claimed has a higher ceiling than Ty Wigginton, had to be added to the 40-man roster.

The Mets dropped him off the 40-man recently, a strong sign of when they consider a player to be a non-prospect. They originally grabbed him off waivers from Milwaukee, which explains a lot.

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Rey Sanchez was put on the disabled list after being unable to play with a left thumb bruise the past five games, even though X-rays were negative. Sanchez was holding a deck of cards in his left hand in the clubhouse Wednesday morning, but apparently he cannot hold or swing a bat to the satisfaction of the medical staff.

Sanchez also took more time than the Mets thought he’d need recovering from a right elbow problem. At best, they have found their well-groomed shortstop to be a slow healer.

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To make room for Scutaro, Grant Roberts (right shoulder tendinitis) was placed on the 60-day disabled list.

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The Mets have never won at Pac Bell Park in the regular season, going 0-10 over the past three years. They did, however, win Game 2 of the 2000 NLDS here.